We’re excited to let you know that we are compiling all the Happiness Hacks we’ve posted. Here’s a “hack” that that surprised us.
Mow-on by Peggy
Mowing my lawn always makes me feel good. I’ve figured it was because I love being outside and mowing was good exercise. However, it’s a pretty small lawn and I don’t get a lot of exercise. I was surprised to read about research done at The University of Queensland in Australia finding that the smell of freshly cut grass increases feel-good neurochemistry in the brain.*
Their studies convinced the researchers cut grass smell was as powerful as well-known scents like:
lavender, cinnamon, vanilla, citrus, baby powder, pine, rose, rosemary, sunscreen and peppermint
They isolated the chemicals to create cut-grass aroma and have bottled it. You can buy cut grass smell!
. . . or you could mow your lawn. Use a push-mower to get a twofer – aerobic exercise & happy aroma.
After all, your nose is very close to your brain . . . and connected to your happiness!
*University of Queens land researchers found that the scent of cut grass works directly on the amygdala and hypo-campus and makes you happier and less stressed. They created a spray with the scent of cut grass called SerenaScent
The mindless mostly repetitive task is refreshing and distracts from the day to day stress-stuff. Will pay attention to the olfactory/happiness contribution.
Also, mowing my lawn definitely makes my neighbors happy as I usually let it go too long in between mowings giving it a distinctive savanah-like look. The rabbits seem to appreciate the delays…
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Rick,
Nice that you can see the advantages of both sides-mowing and not mowing–I bet that ability to look on the bright side often keeps you happy.
Peggy
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Scents lead the way. Our noses drag us around and make us dip our fingers into the spaghetti sauce, tear off a corner of the cookie, and inhale the entire sandwich when we were only going to take a nibble. Seems like mowing the lawn is not only good for the grass blades but great for the figure – in more ways than one. One of my favorite fragrances is petrichor – the smell of the world while it’s raining. I need some of that now. We all do. Then it will be time to cut the grass again.
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Sharon–I too love the smell of rain. good point that the rain will “let” me mow the grass more often.
Peggy
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Rabbits like to eat grass, and it makes them happy. 🐰
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Linda,
Still, I think I will stick to mowing it instead. Although when we were young inArizona we would suck on a stem of grass (Bermuda, I think). Enjoy your grass, whichever way you like.
Peggy
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